US: Monster Beverage brands Beastie Boys' demands 'beyond reasonable'

Monster Beverage Corp has defended itself over a legal clash with hip hop group the Beastie Boys involving the unauthorised use of the band's music.

A hearing kicked off in front of a jury at Manhattan federal court yesterday (27 May) following a lawsuit filed by the band in 2012. The case centres on an online video featuring a Monster-sponsored snowboarding event in Canada. The film included a compilation of Beastie Boys music played by a DJ at the event.

The statement added: “Monster in good faith believed it had obtained the rights to use a compilation of certain Beastie Boys music for an internet video.

“When Monster was notified by the Beastie Boys that the company was mistaken in its belief that it had the proper authorisation, Monster immediately removed the video from the internet. The video received less than 14,000 views during the brief period it was online.

"This lawsuit is solely about what, if anything, Monster must pay to the Beastie Boys because of Monster’s good faith mistake.”